Cleaning devices for dental instruments



Nov. 22, 1955 H. HEISE 2,724,393

CLEANING DEVICES FOR DENTAL INSTRUMENTS Filed June 24, 1953 Irn enmn' HERMAN/v ///JE cleaning and/or a sterilization.

2,724,393 Patented Nov. 22,1955

United States Patent Ofifice CLEANING DEVICES FOR DENTAL INSTRUMENTS The present invention relates to cleaning devices, and particularly to cleaning devices for dental instruments such as dental drill bits and the like.

It is known in the art to immerse dental drill bits and the like after every" use thereof into a special liquid in order to subjectthe drill bits or the like to a chemical However, with this kind ofbathing' the desired? object cannot", as a rule, be achieved completely because some kinds of dirt particles, particu- Ia rly hardened particles, cannot be removed reliably and safely in this manner so that in most cases an afterbrushing ofthe articles such as dental drill bits proves to be necessary. This is, for instance, the case with fissure drills, more particularly if these are provided with very fine transverse cuts.

Obviously the sterilization accomplished by the bathing of the bits is subsequently negatived if such an afterbrushing is applied, particularly if the latter is done by means of. a dental brush or a round or flat brush such as those especially developed for this purpose, the length of the bristles of these brushes being adjustable by means of slides so that the strength and. capability of attaching the dirt can i be adjusted according to the object to be cleaned. Particularly motor-driven rotatable round brushes are used for this purpose.

Instead of the just described. dipping, process with. subsequent brushing, a cleaning process is sometimes applied which. operates only with the aid of brushes which are dipped into a sterilizing. liquid before use.

In order toattain. the sterilizing effect which is entirely or at least partly nullified by the brushing. or afterbrushing described hereinabove, it was found to be necessary to apply to the drill bits or the like asubsequent bathing in a sterilizing liquid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for dental drill bits and. the like which avoids the complications of the known cleaning methods. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for dental drillbits or the like, the operation of which is not time-consuming and tedious to perform; i

A cleaning device according to the present invention comprises a first vessel having an open top, an electroniagnet arranged in the first vessel, an armature forming part of the electromagnet, the armature beingarranged in the topmost part of the first vessel, a second vessel having a flexible bottom, the second vessel being arranged above the first vessel and being supported by the same, and means for rigidly connecting the flexible bottom of the second vessel with the armature of the electromagnet, whereby when the second vessel is filled with a liquid submerging the article and the electromagnet is energized by an alternating current, the flexible bottom is subjected to vibrations by the armature of the electromagnet so that the liquid is thoroughly stirred and the submerged article is cleaned. r

In a. preferred embodiment of the present invention the armature of the electromagnet is shaped as 21 preferably riveting; welding or thelike.

2. rectangular plate arranged parallel to, and below, the flexible bottom of the second vessel.

The present invention will now be described more fully in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section taken along the line A-B of Fig. 2, through acleaning device according to the present invention; and I Fig. 2' isa top'w'ew' of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the cleaning device according" to the present invention comprises a first vessel which consists preferably of electrically insulating material- As will be seen from the drawings: the first vessel 1* has an open top into which-fitsasecond vessel 4 more fully to be described hereinafter. The uppermost wall portion 11 of the first vessel 1 has a thickness which is reduced in comparison to that of the main portion of the first vessel 1 so as to form a step 12' for holding the bottom 5 of the second vessel 4.

An electromagnet 2 to be fed with alternating current is arranged within the first vessel and comprises a laminated iron body including two outer portions 13, an inner portiort14 and a bottom portion 15 connecting the core portions 13 and 14. The electromagnet 2 has a rectangular end face formed by the end faces of the portions 13- and 14. Inthe hollow space separating the inner and outercore portions from one another a coil 3 is arranged which is wound-so as toenclose" the inner core portion 14.

The second vessel 4 is intended for the reception of the sterilizing liquid and the drill bit or bits (not shown). The second vessel 4-has an open top and a flexible bottom 5 to the lower side of which a preferably rectangular, relatively thin, iron plate 6' having for instance a thickness of 1 mm, is attached at 16, for instance by means of The plate 6 forms the armature of the electromagnet 2 and has a contour substantially corresponding to that of the electromagnet 2 seen from above as will be clear from Fig. 2. The distance of the plate 6 from the flexible bottom is only small, for instance amounts to l to 2 mm., the plate 6 being norm-ally held in horizontal position with the small edges thereof arranged above the outercore portions 13 of the eleet'romagnet 2. The rigid connection 16 between the bottom 5 and the iron plate 6 is provided at only one point, preferably approximately at the center ofthe bottom 5' and at the point of intersection of the two diagonals of the iron plate 6 in order to obtain a vibration of the ironplate 6 about the rigid connection 16 toward the two poles or core portions 13, 14 of the electromagnet 2. The center of the bottom 17 of the vessel 1 is provided with a boring 19 for the reception of the head 21 of a screw 20 screwed into the bottom portion 15 of' theeIect'rom-agnet 2- so that the latter is rigidly connected with the bottom 17 of the vessel 1.

Preferably the vessels 1 and 4 are cylindrically shaped. Between the lower side of' the bottom portion 15 and the bottom 17' of the vesseI 1 an insulating layer (not shown) may be provided, if desired. The electric current is fed to the winding 3 by means of a cable 7 which can be connected to, and disconnected from, the winding 3 by means of a toggle switch 8. i

The operation of this device is as follows:

The second vessel 4 is partly filled with a liquid (not shown) having a chemically cleaning and sterilizing action, the drill bits (not shown) being submerged in the liqni'd so that they are restinglength-wise on; the bottom 5; Then the alternating current is switched in by closing the switch 8 so that the elee'tromag'net 2 is excited with an A. C. and the iron. plate orarmature 6 starts vibrating.- In consequence: thereof the bottom 5*c'onnected. to the armature6=bymeans of the connection'16carries out a vibrating motion which causes a permanent vibration of the drill bits (not shown) lying on the bottom and a permanent motion of the liquid (not shown) in the second vessel 4. This has the effect that any dirt particles adhering totthe drill bit are removed from the latter mechanically so thatan additional cleaning action is exerted on the drill hits; while theyare immersed in the liquid. By thisthe drill bits are, chemically and mechanically cleaned without any residue remaining on the drill bits.- 4

The arrangement described hereinabove is based on the following reasoning of physics: Since the coil 3 is energized by analternatingcurrent an alternating electric .field is generated which. produces in turn'within the electromagnet 2 and the armature 6 thereof an alternating magnetic field. Theelectrical alternating voltage is continuously changed in correspondencewiththe frequency of the alternating currentjamounting to 5060 cycles per second. Therefore it will be understood that the electromagnet 2 changes the polarity thereof 50-60 times per second and thus exerts 50-60 times per second an alternating attracting effect on the small sides of the iron plate 6 so that the latter carries out permanent vibrations corresponding to the frequency of the alternating current so that the effects described herein above are obtained.

The coil 3 can be excited with any alternating voltage such as 220 volts or 110 volts corresponding to the usual net voltages.

,While I have shown and described my invention in connection with a cleaning device for dental drill bits it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to such application since the same may be equally adaptable to various other structures without departing from the spirit of my invention. 7

. What I wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. A device for cleaning dental drill bits, comprising, in combination: a first vessel having an open top; an electromagnet arranged in said first vessel; an armature forming part of said electromagnet, said armature being unconnected with said electromagnet and arranged in the topmost part of said first vessel; a second vessel having a flexible bottom, said second vessel being arranged above said first vessel and being supported by the-same; and one point connecting means for rigidly connecting said flexible bottom of said second vessel with the mid point of said unconnected armature of said electromagnet so as to hold said armature at a distance above and from said electromagnet, whereby, if said second vessel is filled with a liquid submerging the article and said electromagnet is energized by an alternatingcurrent, said unconnected annature thereof is subjected to vibrations which are transferred by said rigidly connecting means to said flexible bottom of said second vessel so that .said liquid is thoroughly stirred andthe submerged dental drill bit, while it is in contact with said liquid, is mechanically cleaned. v t

e 2. A device for cleaning dental drill bits, comprising, in combination: a first vessel having an open top; an

unconnected with said electromagnet and arranged opposite to said rectangular end face of said electromagnet in electromagnet arranged in said first vessel, said electromagnet having a rectangular end face; a rectangular armature forming part of said electromagnet, said arma'- turebeing unconnected with said electromagnet and arranged opposite to said rectangular end face of said electron-iagnet in the topmost part of said first vessel; 21

I bottom; and one point connecting means arranged in the center of said rectangular armature for rigidly connecting said flexible bottom of said second vessel with said unconnected armature of said electromagnet so as to hold said armature at a distance above and from said electromagnet, 'whereby if said second vessel is filled with a liquid submerging the dental drill bit, and said electromagnet is energized 'by an' alternating current, said unconnected the topmost part of said first vessel; a second vessel having a. flexible bottom, said second vessel being arranged above said first vessel and being supported by the same, said rectangular armature of said electromagnet being arranged parallel to, and below, said flexible bottom; and one point connecting means arranged at the center of said rectangular armature for rigidly connecting the center of said flexible bottom of said second vessel with the center of said unconnected armature of said electromagnet so. as to hold said armature at a distance above and from said electromagnet, whereby, if said second vessel is filled with a liquid submerging the dental drill bit and said electromagnet is energized by an alternating current, said unconnected armature thereof is subjected to vibrations which are transferred by said rigidly connecting means to said flexible bottom of said second vessel so that said liquid is thoroughly stirred and the submerged dental drill bit, while it is in contact with said liquid, is mechanically cleaned.

4. A device for cleaning dental drill bits, comprising, in combination: a first vessel having an open top; an electromagnet arranged in said first vessel; an armature forming part of said electromagnet, said armature being unconnected with said electromagnet and arranged in the topmost part of said first vessel; a second vessel having a flexible bottom, said second vessel being arranged above said first Vessel and being supported by the same; and one point connecting means for rigidly connecting said flexible bottom of said second vessel with the mid point of said unconnected armature of said electromagnet so as to hold said armature at a distance above and from said electromagnet, whereby, if said second vessel is filled with a sterilizing liquid submerging the dental drill bit and said electromagnet is energized by an alternating current, said unconnected armature thereof is subjected to vibrations which are transferred by said rigidly connecting means to said flexible bottom of said second vessel so that said liquid is thoroughly stirred and the submerged dental drill bit, while it is in contact with said sterilizing liquid, is sterilized and simultaneously mechanically cleaned.

' 5. A device for cleaning dental drill bits, comprising, in combination: a first vessel having an open top; an elec tromagnet arranged in said first vessel, said electromagnet having a rectangular end face; a rectangular armature forming part of said electromagnet, said armature being unconnected with said electomagnet and arranged opposite to said rectangular end face of said electromagnet in the topmost part of said first vessel; a second vessel having a flexible bottom, said second vessel being arranged above said first vessel and being supported by the same, said rectangular armature of said electromagnet being arranged parallel to, and below, said flexible bottom; and one point connecting means for rigidly connecting said flexible bottom of saidsecond vessel With the center of said unconnected armature of said electromagnet so as to hold said armature at a distance above and from said electromagnet, whereby, if said second vessel is filled with a sterilizing liquid submerging the dental drill bit and said electromagnet is energized by an alternating current, said unconnected armature thereof is subjected to'vibrations which are transferred by said rigidly connecting means'to r said flexible bottom of said second vessel so that said liquid is thoroughly stirred and the submerged dental drill bit, while it is in contact with said sterilizing liquid, is sterilized and simultaneously mechanically cleaned.

6. A device for cleaning dental drill bits, comprising, in combination: a first vessel having an open top; an electromagnet arranged in said first vessel, said electromagnet having a rectangular end face; a rectangular armature forming part of said electromagnet, said armature being unconnected with said electromagnet and arranged opposite to said rectangular end face of said electromagnet in the topmost part of said first vessel; a second vessel having a flexible bottom, said second vessel being arranged above said first vessel and being supported by the same, said rectangular armature of said electromagnet being arranged parallel to, and below, said flexible bottom; and one point connecting means arranged at the center of said rectangular armature for rigidly connecting the center of said flexible bottom of said second vessel with the center of said unconnected armature of said electromagnet so as to hold said armature at a distance above and from said electromagnet, whereby, if said second vessel is filled with a sterilizing liquid submerging the dental drill bit and said electromagnet is energized by an alternating current, said unconnected armature thereof is subjected to vibrations which are transferred by said rigidly connecting means to said flexible bottom of said second vessel so that said liquid is thoroughly stirred and the submerged dental drill bit, while it is in contact with said sterilizing liquid; is sterilized and simultaneously mechanically cleaned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,498,990 Fryklund Feb. 28, 1950 2,524,573 Robinson Oct. 3, 1950 2,616,820 Bourgeaux Nov. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 504,625 Germany Aug. 6, 1930 

